Radio apparatus with adjustably spaced control elements

ABSTRACT

Automobile radio apparatus for universal in-dash mounting is disclosed in which bilateral control elements, such as volume controls in the case of a stereo receiver, are adjustably spaced so that prior to installation of said apparatus, the distance between said control elements may be adjusted to correspond to the distance between the existing control element holes in the dash.

United States Patent [151 3,685,879 Tsuji [451 Aug. 22, 1972 1 1 RADIO APPARATUS WITH 3,497,281 2/1970 Wilde ..'....3l2/245 X ADJUSTABLY SPACED CONTROL 3,071,728 1/ 1963 Grace et al. ..312/245 X ELEMENTS 3,268,190 8/1966 Hansen ....248/27 2,799,170 7/1951 Davis ..248/27 X [72] lnvemor- Mmtmy Park, Cdhf- 3,390,338 6/1968 Race ..312/7 R [73] Assignee: California Auto Radio, Inc. P l R G u Primary Examinerau i iam [22] Filed: Nov. 12, 1970 ArtorneyFraser and Bogucki 21 Appl. No.: 88,906

[57] ABSTRACT 52 us. Cl ..312/245, 248/27 Automobile radio apparatus for universal in-dash [51] Int CL "A47b 67/02 A47K 5/08 Glzb 9/00 mounting is disclosed in which bilateral control ele- 58] Field of Search 312/245 2118/31 l ments, such as volume controls in the case of a stereo 206/19 receiver, are adjustably spaced so that prior to installation of said apparatus, the distance between said control elements may be adjusted to correspond to the [56] References cued distance between the existing control element holes in UNITED STATES PATENTS the dash- 3,371,976 3/ 1968 Ritz ..312/245 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED M1822 m2 FlG.-3

INVENTOR. TON T. TSUJI i, Bosucm A TTORNEYS RADIO APPARATUS WITH ADJUSTABLY SPACED CONTROL ELEMENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to radio apparatus for in-dash mounting in automobiles and more particularly to apparatus of the foregoing class in which the control elements are adjustably spaced so that the apparatus is universally mountable in a variety of au- 1 element shaft and associated knob is adapted to project.

The distance between the control element shaft holes in the instrument panel is, of course, fixed so that only radio apparatus with the corresponding center-tocenter distance between control element shafts can be installed in the instrument panel. In most instances, reworking or modifying the instrument panel to accommodate a radio apparatus having a different spacing between control element shafts is prohibitive from the standpoint of cost.

Although the instrument panels of a number of automobile makes are provided at the factory with control shaft holes spaced about 5 /8 inch apart (about 130 mm), nevertheless, because of the increasingly large number of new automobile makes coming into popular usage, the instrument panels of a considerable and growing number of automobiles do not provide the above-mentioned spacing and hence this spacing is by no means universal. Furthermore, the vertical position of the control shaft holes relative to the tuning dial cutout may vary between automobile makes.

One approach to a universally mountable radio receiver or similar apparatus is to avoid in-dash mounting entirely and attach the apparatus under the instrument panel. However, besides often interferring with other devices attached to or in the vicinity of the instrument panel, or with the leg room of the driver or passenger, under-the-dash mounted radio apparatus are easily removed, and although this may be advantageous in some respects, such apparatus are readily subject to theft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the broad aspects of the present having a front plate carrying a control element, such as a volume control, having a forwardly projecting, rotatable shaft adapted to extend through a corresponding hole in the instrument panel. The front plate of each bracket has a vertical slot through which the control element shaft passes thereby providing a vertical adjustment for each control element.

Each bracket is slidable in the guideway between inner and outer limits which limits define, respectively, the minimum and maximum spacing between the control element shafts. Clamping means attached to each bracket and cooperating with the structure defining the guideway is also provided.

Prior to installation of the radio apparatus in the instrument panel, the clamping means are released, the brackets are moved within the guideway to obtain the required spacing between the shafts of the control elements and the brackets are then secured in place by tightening the clamping means. If necessary, vertical adjustment of each control element is made by loosening the control element mounting nut, sliding the control element up or down the required distance within the slot in the front plate of the bracket, and then tightening the control element nut. In this way, exact alignment between the control element shafts and the tuning dial, on the one hand, and the instrument panel cutouts, on the other, is obtained.

The clamping means may take the form of screws threadedly secured to each bracket and cooperating with transverse slots formed in the end portions of the structural members defining the guideway. Further, the transverse adjustment of the control element brackets may be readily and accuratelyperformed by an adjusting screw coupled to the bracket for rotation therein and threadedly received by a nut member secured to the corresponding side wall of the main case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the detailed description below taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a radio apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partially broken away, of a portion of the radio apparatus of FIG. 1 in which the control element bracket is shown in the fully extended position; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view, partially broken away, of a portion of the radio apparatus of FIG. 1 in which the con trol element bracket is in the fully retracted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, the radio apparatus of the present invention includes a main case 10, a tuning panel 12 and a pair of control elements 14 and 16. Although the inventive concept will be seen to be applicable to various kinds of radio apparatus, an FM stereo receiver is shown in the drawings, in which case the elements 14 and 16 are potentiometers for individually controlling the volume of the stereo channels.

The main case 10, which has side walls 18 and 20 and upper and lower surfaces 22 and 24, houses the various electronic and mechanical components station selector mechanism having a horizontal tuning knob 26 and linear tuning dial 28 which incorporates a tuning pointer 30 driven by the knob 26.

The control elements 14 and 16 include rotatable shafts 36 and 38, respectively, adapted to receive knobs 40 and 42. Mounting nuts 37 and 39 hold the control elements 14 and 16 in place. As shown in FIGS. 2'and 3, the shaft 38 projects through hole 44 (44a in FIG. 3) formed in the instrument panel 46 (46a in FIG. 3). The shaft 36 projects through a similar hole (not 1 shown) in the instrument panel on the other side of the tuning panel 12. The instrument panel on the other side of the tuning is further provided with a cutout 48 through which the tuning panel 12 projects.

The forward portion of the main case 10 includes upper and lower, opposed, U-shaped, transversely oriented, parallel channels 50 and 52, the upper surface of the upper channel 50 being substantially flush with the upper surface 22 of the case 10 and the lower surface of the lower channel 52 being substantially flush with the lower surface 24 of the case 10. The ends of the channels 50 and 52 are substantially flush with the side walls 18 and 20 of the case 10, although it will be obvious that the overall length of the channels 50 and 52 may be somewhat greater or less than the overall width of the case 10.

The channels 50 and 52 define between therfi a generally rectangular opening or guideway 58. Disposed .within the end portions of the guideway 58 are generally rectangular, box-like brackets 60 and 62. Brackets 60 and 62 are identical and a detailed description only of bracket62 will be set forth. Bracket 62 includesa front plate 64 carrying the control element shaft 38 passes through a vertical slot 67 formed in the front plate 64 of the bracket 62. Referring to FIGS; 2 and 3, it will be seen that the end plate 66 has a rearwardly projecting flange 68 carrying an adjustment screw 70, the threaded portion of which extends through a hole in the side wall 20 and is received by a nut member 72 securely fastened, by welding, for example, to the inside surface of the side wall 20. A C- washer 74 is snapped over the threaded portion of the screw 70 adjacent the inside surface of the end plate flange 68 so that the screw 70, although free to rotate, is held against axial movement.

Each bracket 60, 62 is slidably disposed within the guideway 58 so that it may be moved in or out, between limits, in order to adjust the center-to-center distance between the control shafts 36 and 38 prior to installation of the, radio apparatus. Each bracket 60, 62 is further provided with clamping means which may take the form of sheet metal screws 80 and 82 extending through transverse slots 84 and 86 in the upper channel 50 and received by the upper plates 60 and 62 of the brackets. Slots (not shown) similar to slots 84 and 86, and in vertical alignmenttherewith, may be formed in the lower channel 52 for receiving clamping screws threaded into the lower plates (not shown) of the brackets 60 and 62. The length of the transversely 60 oriented slots, such as the slots 84 and 86, determine the extent of transverse adjustment of each bracket.

Prior to installation of the radio apparatus in a particular automobile, the center-to-center distance between the control element shaft holes in the instrument panel is measured. The clamping screws including screws 80 and 82 are loosened and the adjusting screws, such as screw 70, are turned one way or the other thereby moving the corresponding bracket in or out of the main case an appropriate distance to obtain the desired spacing between the control element shafts 36 and 38. The clamping screws 80, 82, etc. are then tightened. Any required vertical adjustment of the control elements is made by loosening the control element nuts 37 and 39, shifting the control elements vertically and then tightening the nuts 37 and 39. The radio apparatus is then installed.

'According to one practical example of the present invention, the case has a height of 1% inches, a width of liinches and a depth of 6 inches. The position of the brackets 60 and 62 in their closest approximation, that is,'with the brackets 60 and 62 both moved to their innermost position (FIG. 3), Provides a centerto-center control shaft spacing of 5% inches 130 mm) which corresponds to the hole spacing of the instruthe outermost position of the brackets 60 and 62, that is, with the brackets fully extended from the main case (FIG. 2), the centerto-center spacing is about 6k; inches.

What is claimed is: 1. Radio apparatus for mounting in the instrument panel of an automobile, said panel having preexisting cutouts for control element adjusting means and for a tuning dial, comprising:

dial, and sides;

a bracket carried by said main case on each side of said front face, said brackets carrying radio apparatus control elements and being adjustably mounted in said main case for positioning said brackets relative to said main case in a first direction, said control elements being adjustably mounted in said brackets for positioning said control elements relative to said brackets in a second direction whereby said control elements and said tuning dial may be brought into registry with the corresponding cutouts in said instrument panel; and

clamping means attached to each said bracket and cooperating with said main case for securing said bracket at the desired position.

2. Apparatus, as defined in claim 1, in which:

the position of each said bracket is adjusted by screw means carried by said bracket and cooperating with nut means carried by said main case.

3. Apparatus, as defined in claim 1, in which:

each said control element is adjustably mounted within the bracket carrying said element for vertical positioning of said element relative to said bracket.

4. Radio apparatus adapted for mounting in the instrument panel of an automobile, said instrument panel including pre-existing control element shaft holes spaced a predetermined distance apart and a tuning dial cutout, said apparatus comprising:

a main case having a front surface, a tuning dial and tuning knob, and side walls and including means defining a transverse guideway extending between said side walls and having outer ends; and

a bracket slidably disposed within each outer end of said guideway and including clamping means for ment panels of a large number of automobile makes. At

a main case having a front face, including a tuning securing said bracket to said main case in a predetermined transverse position within said guideway in accordance with the spacing of said control element shaft holes in said instrument panel, each said bracket carrying a radio apparatus control element having a shaft adapted to project through one of said holes in said instrument panel, each said bracket including a front plate having a vertical slot for receiving said control element shaft, said control element having nut means for securing said control element to said front plate in the required position within said slot to align said control element shaft in the vertical direction with the corresponding hole in said instrument panel and to align said tuning dial with said tuning dial cutout.

5. Apparatus, as defined in claim 4, in which: said guideway is defined by a pair of opposed, U-shaped, parallel channel members extending transversely adjacent the front surface of said main case; and said brackets comprise generally rectangular, box-like structures carried between said channel members. 6. Apparatus, as defined in claim 4, in which: each said bracket includes a rearwardly extending flange; and an adjusting screw is rotatably carried by said flange and held against axial movement and is threadedly received by a nut member attached to the cor-- 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTKON Patent No. 3,685 879 Dated August 22, 1972 Inventor(s) Tom T. TSuj i It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

r- Column 2 line 66, after "components" and before "station" insert --of the radio apparatus, all of which will be understood to be conventional. The tuning panel '12 includes a conventional-- Column 3, lines 11 and 12, after "The instrument panel" and before "is" strike "on the other side v of the tuning"; line '32, after "the control element" insert --l6, an upper plate 65 and an end plate 66. The control element--. v 1

Signed and sealed this 15th day of May 1973. I

Attest:

EDWARD M.FLEI'CHER,JR. ROBERT GOT'ISCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. Radio apparatus for mounting in the instrument panel of an auTomobile, said panel having preexisting cutouts for control element adjusting means and for a tuning dial, comprising: a main case having a front face, including a tuning dial, and sides; a bracket carried by said main case on each side of said front face, said brackets carrying radio apparatus control elements and being adjustably mounted in said main case for positioning said brackets relative to said main case in a first direction, said control elements being adjustably mounted in said brackets for positioning said control elements relative to said brackets in a second direction whereby said control elements and said tuning dial may be brought into registry with the corresponding cutouts in said instrument panel; and clamping means attached to each said bracket and cooperating with said main case for securing said bracket at the desired position.
 2. Apparatus, as defined in claim 1, in which: the position of each said bracket is adjusted by screw means carried by said bracket and cooperating with nut means carried by said main case.
 3. Apparatus, as defined in claim 1, in which: each said control element is adjustably mounted within the bracket carrying said element for vertical positioning of said element relative to said bracket.
 4. Radio apparatus adapted for mounting in the instrument panel of an automobile, said instrument panel including pre-existing control element shaft holes spaced a predetermined distance apart and a tuning dial cutout, said apparatus comprising: a main case having a front surface, a tuning dial and tuning knob, and side walls and including means defining a transverse guideway extending between said side walls and having outer ends; and a bracket slidably disposed within each outer end of said guideway and including clamping means for securing said bracket to said main case in a predetermined transverse position within said guideway in accordance with the spacing of said control element shaft holes in said instrument panel, each said bracket carrying a radio apparatus control element having a shaft adapted to project through one of said holes in said instrument panel, each said bracket including a front plate having a vertical slot for receiving said control element shaft, said control element having nut means for securing said control element to said front plate in the required position within said slot to align said control element shaft in the vertical direction with the corresponding hole in said instrument panel and to align said tuning dial with said tuning dial cutout.
 5. Apparatus, as defined in claim 4, in which: said guideway is defined by a pair of opposed, U-shaped, parallel channel members extending transversely adjacent the front surface of said main case; and said brackets comprise generally rectangular, box-like structures carried between said channel members.
 6. Apparatus, as defined in claim 4, in which: each said bracket includes a rearwardly extending flange; and an adjusting screw is rotatably carried by said flange and held against axial movement and is threadedly received by a nut member attached to the corresponding side wall of said main case.
 7. Apparatus, as defined in claim 5, in which: said channels include transverse slots adjacent said outer ends; and screw means are received by said slots and threadedly engage said brackets to clamp said brackets in the desired position.
 8. Apparatus, as defined in claim 1, in which: each said bracket is adjustably mounted for horizontal positioning of said bracket relative to said main case. 